Club Ethos
My priority in training dogs is the happiness and well-being of the animals.
I believe in using Positive Reinforcement above any other method of training.
Punishments and aversive's may work to some extent but the results can be variable and may lead to potential problems later on.
Why use Positive reinforcement?
I do not agree with Dominance theories or pack leader jargon. Dogs don't think we are dogs, they aren't that stupid! So please don't try to "talk dog" with challenging stares, "alpha rolls" and such nonsense. If a dog goes through a doorway first it's purely down to poor manners and lack of understanding on the dogs behalf, it does not mean they are conspiring to take over your household!
I believe in using Positive Reinforcement above any other method of training.
Punishments and aversive's may work to some extent but the results can be variable and may lead to potential problems later on.
Why use Positive reinforcement?
- Positive training increases your bond with your dog, it increases their confidence and actually makes them smarter and happier
- Positive reinforcement works by allowing the dog to learn what is 'right' rather than constantly 'correcting' the dog and leaving them with no clue about what you actually want. This helps make the whole process easier for you as a person and the dog too.
- Rewarding the dog the moment they get it right helps them to retain that information, making their training more reliable in the longer term
- positive reinforcement allows the dog to gain confidence as they learn - bit like a game of hot and cold, you are telling them every time they get 'hotter' and not just 'cold, cold, cold' Get it?
- Punishment training can suppress a dogs behaviour and make them reluctant to try new things
- As a trainer you are always looking for the bad in your dog, setting up situations where you can punish them. It is stressful for you because all you are looking for is your dog disobeying your commands.
- If you punish your dog at the wrong time you may inadvertently associate negative feeling towards something completely different, this could be a person or another animal.
I do not agree with Dominance theories or pack leader jargon. Dogs don't think we are dogs, they aren't that stupid! So please don't try to "talk dog" with challenging stares, "alpha rolls" and such nonsense. If a dog goes through a doorway first it's purely down to poor manners and lack of understanding on the dogs behalf, it does not mean they are conspiring to take over your household!
